RATCHET, the fast growing online youth clothing and accessory company has arrived at intu Lakeside in time for Small Business Saturday 2014.
Saturday 6th December is officially Small Business Saturday where shoppers across the country are encouraged to shop local and support small businesses. A shining example of young small business is Ratchet, the uber trendy clothing and accessory company whose wearers include Miley Cyrus and local X Factor finalist Lauren Platt.
The Ratchet brand is the brain child of 18 year old entrepreneur Dhillan Bhardwaj, who at the age of 16 turned his back on the family business and saw a vision of something he could create himself. He started to design and sell t-shirts to friends and family, however word got out and pretty soon he was getting messages from people he did not know asking him to design something for them.
Utilizing the power of social media Dhillan opened a Facebook page and within hours had over 7000 fans. Two years on Ratchet employs 20 staff and is going from strength to strength.
Dhillan has also been a special guest of the Prime Minister after being nominated to go to Number 10 by a local Member of Parliament. Dhillan says “Mr Cameron was really nice, we had a chat about how I started the business and he congratulated me on the success. To have that type of encouragement as a young person is incredible and I hope I can inspire people in the same way.”
The latest stage in the young businessman’s growth is a pop up Christmas shop at intu Lakeside. The shop recently opened to eager fans, many who had queued since 6am, keen to get their hands on Ratchets stylish hoodies, t-shirts and accessories including bags and beanies. Previously to this Ratchet had been trading online on intus’s own shopping website www.intu.co.uk.
Dhillan says: “It hasn’t really sunk in yet. When I go out people ask for my photo and I’m like, ‘why would you want that’? I am just doing what I love and if people are happy with that then so am I.”
It is this humility that has kept him grounded during the mass expansion of his self- made business. It is reported that the business will turnover £1m this year, amazing growth for such a small young business.
Donna Callander, Marketing Manager at intu Lakeside said “We are proud that a regional shopping centre such as intu Lakeside can support small business. Ratchet is trend setting company whose appeal to younger customers is very strong, we have had great feedback from shoppers about the Ratchet store and we know in the run up to Christmas it will be a must visit store for many people”
Ratchet is located opposite H&M on Level 2. The store is home to the great product range that is bound to be on many a young person’s Christmas list.
